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UK Approves First COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Treatment as AstraZeneca Reports 77% Efficacy in Prevention Trial

  • The UK's MHRA approved Ronapreve, the first monoclonal antibody therapy specifically designed to treat and prevent COVID-19, developed by Regeneron and Roche.
  • The treatment combines two monoclonal antibodies administered by injection or infusion, working by binding to the virus and preventing respiratory system entry.
  • AstraZeneca simultaneously announced that its AZD7442 antibody combination reduced COVID-19 symptom risk by 77% in a trial of 5,172 participants, with over three-quarters having comorbidities affecting vaccine response.
  • Both treatments represent significant advances for vulnerable populations who may not respond adequately to COVID-19 vaccines alone.

FDA Approves Aduhelm: First Disease-Modifying Alzheimer's Treatment in Nearly Two Decades

  • The FDA granted accelerated approval to Biogen's aducanumab (Aduhelm) as the first disease-modifying Alzheimer's treatment in nearly two decades, despite divided expert opinions on its clinical efficacy.
  • Aduhelm, priced at $56,000 annually, works by reducing amyloid plaques in the brain and will require monthly intravenous infusions with comprehensive clinical and MRI monitoring for potential adverse effects.
  • As part of the accelerated approval, Biogen must conduct a Phase 4 confirmatory trial, while experts view this approval as a potential catalyst for developing more effective Alzheimer's treatments targeting multiple pathways.

EMA Grants Orphan Drug Designation to ICT01 for Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment

  • The European Medicines Agency has granted Orphan Drug designation to ICT01, a humanized anti-butyrophilin 3A monoclonal antibody designed to selectively activate γ9δ2 T cells, for treating acute myeloid leukemia.
  • The designation recognizes AML's high unmet medical need and limited treatment options, particularly for older or unfit patients who are not eligible for intensive chemotherapy.
  • ICT01 represents a novel immunotherapeutic approach targeting butyrophilin 3A to activate specific T cell populations for cancer treatment.

Prestige Biopharma Partners with Teva Israel for Trastuzumab Biosimilar Commercialization

  • Prestige Biopharma has entered an exclusive commercialization agreement with Teva Israel for its trastuzumab biosimilar Tuznue (HD201) targeting HER2-positive breast cancer and gastric adenocarcinoma.
  • Phase 3 TROIKA trial data demonstrated equivalent efficacy to Herceptin with 46.6% complete response rate in the biosimilar arm versus 46.2% for the reference product.
  • The European Medicines Agency is currently reviewing the marketing authorization application for Tuznue based on positive clinical trial results.
  • This partnership expands Prestige's global commercialization strategy, following previous agreements with Pharmapark for Russia and Mundipharma for multiple European markets.

FDA Approves Monjuvi in Combination with Lenalidomide for Relapsed/Refractory DLBCL

  • The FDA has approved Monjuvi (tafasitamab-cxix) in combination with lenalidomide as the first second-line treatment for adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who are not eligible for autologous stem cell transplant.
  • The approval was based on the Phase 2 L-MIND study, which demonstrated a 55% overall response rate with a 37% complete response rate and median duration of response of 21.7 months.
  • Approximately 10,000 patients are diagnosed annually in the United States with relapsed or refractory DLBCL who are not eligible for stem cell transplant, representing a significant unmet medical need.
  • Monjuvi is a humanized CD19-targeting monoclonal antibody that received accelerated approval and will be co-commercialized by MorphoSys and Incyte in the United States.

Pertuzumab Regimen Shows Modest Survival Benefit in HER2-Positive Early Breast Cancer

• The APHINITY trial's 6-year analysis reveals that adjuvant pertuzumab with trastuzumab plus chemotherapy improved overall survival by 0.9% in HER2-positive early breast cancer patients, though not reaching statistical significance.
• Patients with node-positive disease showed the most significant benefit from the pertuzumab regimen, with a 4.5% absolute improvement in invasive disease-free survival at 6 years compared to placebo.
• The pertuzumab combination maintained a favorable cardiac safety profile with severe cardiac events occurring in less than 1% of patients, supporting its continued use in high-risk HER2-positive early breast cancer.

FDA Approves First Treatment for Primary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis, Marking 24-Year Breakthrough

  • The FDA has approved emapalumab-lzsg (Gamifant) as the first treatment specifically indicated for primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), an ultra-rare and life-threatening immune disorder.
  • In a pivotal phase 2/3 study of 27 patients with refractory disease, 63% demonstrated overall response and 70% proceeded to hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
  • The monoclonal antibody targets interferon gamma, representing the first significant improvement in primary HLH induction therapy in 24 years.
  • Primary HLH typically affects children within the first year of life and has a median survival of less than two months without treatment.

FDA Approves Two New Ustekinumab Biosimilars, Bringing Total US Biosimilar Count to 65

  • The FDA has approved Biocon's Yesintek (ustekinumab-kfce) and Celltrion's Steqeyma (ustekinumab-stba) in November and December 2024, expanding treatment options for autoimmune conditions including Crohn's disease and psoriasis.
  • Of the 65 FDA-approved biosimilars, 14 have received interchangeable designation, allowing pharmacists to substitute them for reference products without prescriber intervention, enhancing patient access to more affordable treatments.
  • The biosimilar landscape continues to evolve with products spanning five major classes: insulin, granulocyte colony-stimulating factors, monoclonal antibodies, TNF-alpha inhibitors, and VEGF inhibitors.

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